Obituary of Barbara Jane Nelson

Barbara Jane Nelson 69, of Peabody, passed away peacefully in the presence of her loving sister Joyce on Monday, March 13, 2017 at the NSMC Union Hospital in Lynn. Barbara was born in Salem on September 9, 1947 daughter of the late Horace Parker and Margaret Jane (Dunne) Nelson. Raised and educated in Peabody, she graduated from Peabody High School in 1965. She pursued her education at the University of Bridgeport CT and received a Bachelor of Arts degree. Later in her life she was awarded a scholarship from the Peabody Rotary Club to further her studies at the West Surrey School of Design in Farnham, England. Her working career began as an art teacher at Burlington Junior High School and later at the Peabody Veterans Memorial High School. Barbara was President of H.P Nelson Auto Body Supply, a family business in Salem, MA. In the early 1990’s, her love and passion for travel inspired Barbara to seek out a career in travel, working first as a tour guide, then as an instructor at the Travel Education Center in Cambridge, Ma. Barbara then launched Nelson Travel Management representing several hotels and destinations in the Caribbean and Bermuda. She was a past President of the New England Chapter of the Caribbean Tourism Organization and founder and past President of the Boston chapter of PTANA (Professional Travel Agents of North America). Barbara traveled extensively throughout the world and her hobbies were painting, photography, theater and movies. She also loved history and worked as a tour guide for The House of Seven Gables in Salem, MA. Barbara’s cherished family and many friends will always remember her kind and caring ways, her quick Irish wit and sense of humor. Barbara is survived by her sister, Joyce Nelson of Peabody, many cousins and numerous friends. Joyce and her extended family will receive relatives and friends on Sunday, March 19, 2017 from 3 to 7 p.m. at the Conway, Cahill-Brodeur Funeral Home at 82 Lynn St., Peabody. Her funeral will be held from the funeral home at 11 a.m. on Monday, March 20th followed by her Mass of Christian Burial at 12 Noon at St. John the Baptist, 16 Church St., Peabody. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the MGH/North Shore Cancer Center, www.massgeneralnorthshore.org , 102 Endicott St., Danvers, MA 01923. The interment will be held at Cedar Grove Cemetery, Peabody. Please visit www.ccbfuneral.com for directions, online obituary and memorial guest book.